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WTA Tour: world No. 1 ranking in play down the stretch

By Harry Floyd

TOKYO, JAPAN - SEPTEMBER 22: Garbine Muguruza of Spain serves in her quarter final match against Caroline Garcia of France during day five of the Toray Pan Pacific Open Tennis At Ariake Coliseum on September 22, 2017 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)
TOKYO, JAPAN - SEPTEMBER 22: Garbine Muguruza of Spain serves in her quarter final match against Caroline Garcia of France during day five of the Toray Pan Pacific Open Tennis At Ariake Coliseum on September 22, 2017 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images) /
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WTA Tour action in the coming weeks will determine the end of year world No. 1. Right now, the chase for the top spot is highly contested.

With the 2017 WTA Tour approaching the end of year finals, the top ranking in women’s singles tennis is up for grabs.

Garbine Muguruza will remain the world No. 1 for the time being after her play at the Wuhan Open so far. The top seed is into the quarterfinals at the tournament, facing Jelena Ostapenko next.

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World No. 2 Simona Halep splashed out of the Wuhan Open early, eliminating any chances of her gaining the top ranking this week. She loses her opening round match against Daria Kasatkina in straight sets.

Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza looks to retain the sport’s top ranking after action at the Wuhan Open.

World No. 4 Karolina Pliskova reached the world No. 1 ranking earlier this year. She drops out of the Wuhan Open in the quarterfinals, losing to Ashleigh Barty in three sets. The loss keeps her chase to regain the top ranking alive. A title win at the tournament along with Muguruza was required for the world No. 4 to leap past those ahead of her.

For now, the 2017 Wimbledon champion is the player to beat. While it may not necessarily matter who ends the year as the world No. 1, it will be telling if Muguruza can retain the position throughout the rest of the year. If she can continue her strong play, Muguruza will be the favorite at the end of year WTA Finals.

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Look for Halep to bring her best tennis to the WTA Finals. She is among those already qualified and needs a solid tournament to put herself back into the women’s singles spotlight. Other players already in the field include Muguruza, Halep, Pliskova, Elina Svitolina, and Venus Williams.

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